BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aera
Energy, one of California’s largest oil and gas producers, and GlassPoint
Solar, the leading supplier of solar energy for the oil and gas
industry, today announced plans to build California’s largest solar
energy project. Located at the Belridge oilfield west of Bakersfield,
the integrated solar project will be the first of its kind in the world
to use solar steam and solar electricity to power oilfield operations,
efficiently reducing the field’s carbon emissions. Once complete, the Belridge
Solar project will deliver the largest peak energy output of any
solar plant in California.

“Aera is committed to safe, responsible operations and is thrilled to
extend our environmental leadership by using solar to power our
production. Adding solar energy at Belridge allows us to continue to
lead the way in the safest, most environmentally responsible energy
extraction there is,” said Aera Energy President and CEO Christina
Sistrunk. “The people of California are counting on us to help them get
to school and work each day, allow their businesses to grow and thrive
and help get California-grown food on their dinner tables. We are proud
to be an active part of California’s low carbon future and lead the
industry by adopting bold solutions to deliver valuable energy, more
efficiently while protecting the environment.”

Belridge Solar will consist of an 850 MWt solar thermal
facility, producing 12 million barrels of steam per year, and a 26.5 MWe
photovoltaic facility that will generate electricity. The
solar-generated steam and electricity will reduce natural gas currently
used onsite in oilfield operations.

The facility is projected to save more than 376,000 metric tons of
carbon dioxide emissions per year, offsetting the equivalent of 80,000
cars, more than one-third of the cars in Bakersfield today. The project
is also expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in
California throughout the oil and gas supply chain and supporting
industries.

“GlassPoint is thrilled to partner with Aera to scale our solar oilfield
technology in California and deliver meaningful carbon reductions. By
harnessing the power of the sun to produce oil, oil operators can
efficiently reduce emissions using advanced technology, creating
long-term benefits for the local economy and environment,” said Sanjeev
Kumar, GlassPoint SVP, Americas. “Our partnership with Aera demonstrates
the growing energy convergence where renewables and traditional energy
leaders are working together to address some of the biggest challenges
of our time.”

Aera and GlassPoint plan to break ground on the Belridge
Solar plant in the first half of 2019. The project is expected to
start producing steam and electricity as early as 2020.

“Our local energy producers continue to invest in cutting edge
innovation and compete globally to provide needed energy resources for
our nation in an environmentally responsible way,” said 34th
District Assemblyman Vince Fong. “Our community will benefit greatly
from the added jobs that further boost our local economy. Aera continues
to be an exemplary energy partner.”

“By harvesting the power of the sun, Aera Energy is leading us into the
future of energy reliability and sustainability,” said 32nd
Assemblyman Rudy Salas. “The exciting new Aera Energy and GlassPoint
Solar project will have a positive impact locally and globally, using
cutting edge technology to create jobs and grow the economy while
conserving valuable resources and reducing carbon emissions,” he added.

GlassPoint’s solar technology provides low-cost renewable
energy for extracting heavy oil, which accounts for half of
California’s crude oil production. Heavy oil is produced by injecting
steam in to the reservoir to heat the oil so it can be pumped to the
surface. This process, known as thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR),
typically generates steam using natural gas. By harnessing the sun’s
thermal energy to replace the combustion of natural gas, GlassPoint is
enabling Aera to reduce its energy consumption and carbon footprint at
Belridge.

In 2011, GlassPoint unveiled its first commercial project with Berry
Petroleum in Kern County. Following the success of the pilot project,
GlassPoint scaled its technology overseas in Oman and is currently
constructing Miraah, a landmark project with Petroleum Development Oman
(PDO). Once complete, Miraah
will produce over one gigawatt of peak thermal energy, making it one of
the world’s largest solar plants of any kind.

About Aera Energy LLC

Aera accounts for about 25% of the state’s oil production. The oil we
produce allows millions of Californians to travel to work every day,
businesses to grow and thrive and California-grown food to arrive at
dinner tables. We live in the communities where we work, which includes
Kern, Ventura, Monterey and Fresno counties. We’re working to redevelop
a historic oilfield in northern Santa Barbara County. And just like our
neighbors’ safety is our safety, their success is also our success.
We’re proud to support local communities through jobs, partnerships and
investments to build stronger neighborhoods and cities together.
California is powered by oil. Aera is powered by safety, innovation and
community.

GlassPoint Solar is the leading supplier of solar energy to the oil and
gas industry. The global oil and gas industry consumes an amount of
energy equal to 10% of its own production, making it one of the biggest
markets for renewable energy. Operating worldwide from the Middle East
to California, GlassPoint’s enclosed trough technology delivers the
lowest cost energy to power oilfield operations. By harnessing sunshine,
instead of burning natural gas or other fuels, GlassPoint helps oil
producers reduce operating expenses while significantly cutting
greenhouse gas emissions.

GlassPoint is one of the fastest-growing solar companies in the world
with more than one gigawatt of solar oilfield projects under
construction. The World Economic Forum recently recognized GlassPoint as
a 2016 Technology Pioneer for its role in enabling more economical and
sustainable oil production.